December 5, 2024
Yellow Santa Claus Crashes Atlanta Lighting Event
Above (L to R): Claudia Capraru, Donna Sumner, Darby Herold, Lily Willis, Jacqui Heslep, Kris "Santa Claus" Kringle, Dani Senne, Emily Fiddler, Carrie Walker
A surprise visit from yellow-clad Santa draws chuckles and groans; celebrating industry camaraderie
ATLANTA — A festive gathering of Lighting People at the “Lighting Up the Holidays” event on December 4 at SweetWater Brewing Company in Midtown Atlanta turned into a memorable affair when an unexpected visitor made a surprising appearance. Santa Claus himself, decked out in a vibrant yellow suit, crashed the party, leaving attendees amused, confused and thoroughly entertained.
Above (L to R): Santa Claus, Darby Herold, Al Uszynski, Jacqui Heslep
The event, hosted by a triumvirate of Atlanta-based lighting groups — the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Atlanta Section, Women in Lighting + Design Atlanta Chapter, and IALD Southeast U.S. Chapter — is a staple on the holiday calendar for local Lighting People. Even event organizers were completely taken by surprise when Santa arrived without warning, bringing his unmistakable charm to the holiday celebration.
Santa entered the brewery with a jingling sleigh bell staff and booming enthusiasm. But instead of the traditional “ho, ho, ho,” he greeted the crowd with the cheerful proclamation: “Hello, Lighting People!” Attendees, stunned by his yellow suit — a bold departure from the usual red — quickly realized this was no ordinary Saint Nick.
When asked about his wardrobe choice, Santa explained, “I wore my special yellow suit to match the brand color of my favorite lighting industry trade publication, Inside Lighting. I stay plugged into DarkSky initiatives and really appreciate properly shielded outdoor lights because Blitzen gets disoriented by glare-bomb wall packs during rooftop landings.”
Naughty & Nice Lighting People
The yellow outfit wasn’t Santa’s only twist. Santa carried a sack filled with unique gifts tailored to his audience. Lighting People deemed “nice” were rewarded with a festive gift box containing three elegant solid dark chocolate light bulbs, complete with decorative holiday foil-wrapped sockets. Those on the “naughty” list, however, weren’t as lucky.
Above: Slade Holladay, one of six “naughty” Lighting People who received an 18-watt, quad tube CFL
“We don’t hand out coal anymore,” Santa declared with a mischievous grin. “This is what naughty Lighting People get!” He reached into his sack and handed over a boxed 18-watt, 4-pin compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), much to the dismay of the recipient. The reaction from the crowd was immediate — groans, chuckles, and some well-informed ribbing.
Slade Holladay, an electrical engineer at Savant Engineering, was among the recipients of Santa's infamous 2700K, 80 CRI quad-tube lamp. When asked by Inside Lighting what actions might have landed him on the naughty list, Holladay declined to comment.
The Return of the Compact Fluorescent Lamp
The choice of a CFL as a “punishment” resonated deeply with the seasoned Lighting People in the room. Longtime Atlanta lighting designer Andrew Beldecos seized the moment to educate younger attendees about the dreadful era of CFLs, which have largely been replaced by LEDs in modern lighting applications.
Above: Andrew Beldecos, Santa Claus, John Winfield Littleton, Jr., III
“These 4-pin lamps were dimmable, but the 2-pin versions weren’t,” Beldecos explained to a group of wide-eyed listeners. “You really had to know your ballast factors to make these work on a project.”
Santa’s antics didn’t stop at CFLs and chocolate. One surprised manufacturer representative was handed a book titled HR Approved Ways to Look Smart at Work, drawing hearty laughs from those nearby.
When asked why he decided to join the event, Santa was characteristically jolly. “I’ve always loved the lighting industry,” he said. “You bring light to the world — and to Rudolph’s nose – how could I not support that?”
A Holiday Event to Remember
Santa stayed for photos, cheerfully posing with attendees and encouraging them to share their naughty-or-nice lighting industry stories. The unexpected visit left a lasting impression, cementing this year’s “Lighting Up the Holidays” event as a festive and enjoyable event for Atlanta area Lighting People.
As the crowd raised their glasses to toast the season, Santa reminded everyone of the importance of community in the lighting industry. “Whether you’re designing architectural interiors, manufacturing lighting products, or selling high performance luminaires, remember: it’s about illuminating the world together.”
As Santa prepared to leave, he turned to the crowd with a knowing grin and said, “Lighting People, remember: even a well-shielded, low-lumen fixture can brighten the darkest night.”
